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啭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
啭zhuànto sing; to chirp, to twitter, to warbleg, 11 strokes, radical 口
啭zhuànto sing (of birds or insects)unknown, 11 strokes, radical 口
zhuàn(zhuan4)zhuan T4
  1. 1to sing; to chirp, to twitter, to warble
  2. 2to sing (of birds or insects)
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March 24, 2026

啭(囀)zhuàn(zhuan4)

The character 啭 (zhuàn) refers to the act of singing or producing melodic sounds, particularly by birds or insects. It conveys a sense of lightness and joy, often associated with the natural world. Commonly used in contexts related to nature, music, or poetry, it emphasizes the beauty of sound in the environment.

Strokes11Radical口
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, birds are often associated with happiness and good fortune, and their songs are celebrated in poetry and art. The character 啭 captures this appreciation for the beauty of nature and the sounds it produces, reflecting a deep cultural connection to the environment.

Memory tip

Imagine a small bird perched on a branch, singing its heart out. The shape of 啭 resembles a bird's beak (the top part) and its vocal cords (the bottom part) working together to create beautiful sounds. This image can help you remember both the pronunciation 'zhuàn' and the meaning related to singing.

Meanings of 啭

zhuàn(zhuan4)
1to sing; to chirp, to twitter, to warble
2to sing (of birds or insects)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 啭

啭Simplified
囀Traditional
11Strokes
口Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 啭

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AI study notes for 啭

Quick Contrast

鸣 (míng) — use 啭 (zhuàn) for light, joyful singing, while 鸣 (míng) emphasizes calls or sounds made by animals, often with a more general or serious tone.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 啭 is often used in literary or artistic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with simpler terms for 'singing,' such as 唱 (chàng), which is more general. Use 啭 when referring specifically to the singing of birds or insects.

HSK Study Tips

Although 啭 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with words related to nature and sound found in lower HSK levels. Focus on how this word can enhance your descriptions of natural scenes in Mandarin, particularly in poetic or artistic expressions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 啭 with other similar characters like 嗯 (èn) or 唱 (chàng). For example, saying '我喜欢鸟唱' (I like birds singing) instead of '我喜欢鸟啭' is incorrect; use 啭 to specifically emphasize the chirping of birds.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 啭

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Etymology of 啭

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)口
+
Phonetic (sound)转
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

啭 = 口 + 转. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 啭

IDS Structure⿰口转
啭Full character
=
口kou3
left
转zhuai3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 啭?

How to say to sing; to chirp, to twitter, to warble in Chinese

“to sing; to chirp, to twitter, to warble” in Chinese is啭zhuàn

The character 啭 (zhuàn) refers to the act of singing or producing melodic sounds, particularly by birds or insects. It conveys a sense of lightness and joy, often associated with the natural world. Commonly used in contexts related to nature, music, or poetry, it emphasizes the beauty of sound in the environment.

When to use 啭

Be mindful that 啭 is often used in literary or artistic contexts rather than in everyday conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with simpler terms for 'singing,' such as 唱 (chàng), which is more general. Use 啭 when referring specifically to the singing of birds or insects.

啭 or something close to it

鸣 (míng) — use 啭 (zhuàn) for light, joyful singing, while 鸣 (míng) emphasizes calls or sounds made by animals, often with a more general or serious tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 啭 with other similar characters like 嗯 (èn) or 唱 (chàng). For example, saying '我喜欢鸟唱' (I like birds singing) instead of '我喜欢鸟啭' is incorrect; use 啭 to specifically emphasize the chirping of birds.

Write 啭

啭

Practice writing 啭 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 啭

Words containing this character1
啭zhuànto warble囀

Frequently asked questions about 啭

You can say, '那只鸟在树上啭得很动听' (That bird is chirping beautifully in the tree).

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